Trip mechanism for sheet-feeders.



R, B. MOLAUGHLIN.

TRIP MEGHANISM FORSHEET PBEDERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910. hmm/$389., Pawn-bea Now/.4,1913

5 SHBETS-SHEBT 1.

R. B. MULAUGHLIN. TRIP MEGHANISM ron SHEET FBBDBRs.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910,

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

@M I er l -V 4;

'y WN MMM-7 5 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

R. B. MGLAUGHLIN.

TRIP MEGHANSM FOR SHEET FEEDBRS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910.

1,077,889, Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R.4 B. MULAUGHLIN.

TRIP'MEGHANISM FOR SHEET PBBDERS.l APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910.

1,077,889, Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R. B. MOLAUGHLIN.

TRIP MEGHANISM POR SHEET FEEDBRS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 25. 1910.

Patented NV. 4, 1913.

hilf/' UNITED STATES .PATENT oEEIcE. f

ROBEBT'B. MOLAUGHLIN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED PRINT- ING MACHINERY CO., F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

Tmr Meenemen non vSHEET-ivrirznnns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. McLaUGiT- LIN, of Newton, in the county ofMiddlesex and .State of Massachusetts, have 1nvented certain new anduseful Improvefeeding mechanism inactive when a sheet has been fed to apredetermined. osition.

As shown by the accompanyin rawings the invention is combinedwith tattype of sheet feeding mechanism known -as combing mechanism,that is,mechanism by which the to sheets of a pile are separated successive yfrom the pile and advanced one by one to other feeding means by whichthe sheets are carried forward to a printing press or other machine. Theaction of combing and feeding means of this type is as follows. The topsheetsof the pile are advanced by the combing `mechanism'at a relativelyslow speed to a predetermined point where they are permitted to ,dwellfor a brief eriod of time, after which they are engaged) by coactingfeed" 'rolls which carry them forward. at a relatively rapid rate. Tothose familiar] with this art it is well known that theaction 'ofcombing means is far from ositive and that the sheets in being combe'toward the feed rolls become skewed more 'or less, depending upon thethickness, texture, and surface of the sheets. For this'reason it iscustomary to'v associate with the combin means some means adapted tocorrectthe s ewing of the sheets before the sheets are eng ed by thefeed rolls.` The correcting accor ing to the present invention isaccomplished by controlling the combing devices'independently ,of eachother, two combing devices, one Jfor each side edge of the sheet beingprovided. The combing devices 'are arranged-fte. rest by gravity uponthe top of the pileand are continuously driven. Each combing device issubject to the action of automatic means by which it is retractedfromroperative position, andthe retracting means for each of the combindevices is'subject .to Aindependent contro The control of the retractlngmeans is effected by sheet-actuated members "normall intersecting thepath 'of' the sheet and *a apted toA restrain the retracting means untildisplaced from normal positron. By this means the combing device actingupon the more advanced side of the sheet becomes retracted. while theother combmg device continues to act, the other c ombin device beindpermitted to act until the agging side o the sheet is advanced to thetransverse plane of the aforesaid advanced portion.

Great difficulty is experienced in devising sheet-actuated controllingdevices whose actlon is sufficiently sensitive to respond to the actlonof relatively thin sheets.' So called tension rolls are sometimesrovided for engaging the forward edge o' a sheet on either side of asheet-actuated controlling member for the purpose of maintainingsuiiicient tension upon the sheet to enable the sheet to displace thecontrolling member. Tension devices, however, materially increase thecost of a feeding machine and are not always satisfactory because theysometimes fail to fuli the requirements, and also occupy valuable spacewhich is required for other mechanism.

The chief object of the present invention is tol provide trip mechanismcontrolled by sheet-actuated members which are so sensitive in. theiraction as to respond to the action of extremely thin sheets withoutrequiring tensiondevices or other equivalent means.

A second object of the invention is to so control and arrange thesheet-actuated controlling member as to utilize it as a gage for thefront edge of the aper, to positively position the edge of tile paper inparallelism with the axes of the feed rolls.

'Hitherto' sheet-actuated controllin inembers have been arranged to actdirect y upon the trip mechanism, the friction or retardation of saidcontrollingmembers depending u on the tension existing between th'em andt etrip mechanism. In order to overcome as far as ossible the frictionor other cause of retar ing the' movement of the controlling membersthe. present invention 'interposes an .actuatingelement between saidcontrollinl `members vand-thev trip mechanism. T ve actuating' velementis adapted to act when released so Yas to strike and move,

the tripine'chanismto release the retracting means Aby`-which thecombing devices are retracted. The` relativel great effect of a lblowlas compared toca sow 'steady pressure vvthe sheet-actuated members beingso lportioned and arranged with regar to position by saidcontrollinglmembers and to be released when said controlling members aredisplaced by a sheet.

Sincek an actuating element which acts by' striking a blow requires lessmotive force than one operated 'b a slow continuous force it is apparentt at a relatively light mot-ive force Vis required in order to producethe requisite blow. The actuating element forming apart of the presentinvention is subject to a relativelylight tension and is so related tothe sheet-,actuated controlling members as to be held in retractedosition by said members and to ybe rceased when said members aredisplaced. The degree of friction yof the retracted actuating elementupon 'the sheet-actuated controlling members vis hardly appreciable,

leveragc and the application of pressure as to be nearly, if notabsolutely, free to respond to action of a sheet.

Referring now to` the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecificav attached controlling mechanism embodying ,one vform of thepresent invention. Fig. 2 -i'epresents a side elevation ona. smallerscale of a combing device which is controlled by the mechanism inFig. 1. Fig. 3 'repre-` sents a top plan view of the combing mechanismincluding a pair of -combing devices. Fig. 4 represents aside elevationopposed with relation'to Fig. 1 of the same elements of a sheet feeder.Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of the partsl included in Fig. 4.Fig. 6 represents a'transversesection and elevation yof the trip"mechanism. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section ofthe Vactuatingelement for'the tri mechanism, and including .a sheet-actuatedcontrolling'member and other mechanism. Fi 8 represents an elevation ofone of the s eet-actuated' controlling members. Figu 9 is a perspectiveView of the controlling portion of such member. Fig. l10 is aperspective view of the member which coacts with that shown by Fig. 9,and which strikes the blow by which lthe trip mechanism is moved. Fig."11 is a perspective view of a. holder by which the memlber shown inFig. 9 'is supported.

The "same reference characters indicate the Lsame parts wherevertheyoccur.

Before roceeding to .a description of the novel mec anism embodyingthepresent invention a' brief description` of the sheet feeder will begiven. I

Referring first to Figs. 1' and 2 A indicates a pilejof sheets whichareto be fed. A

frame work.

pair vof combing devices such as the wheels 12 and 12 are arrangedtorest upon the pile of sheets by reason of their gravity. vThe combingWheels are rotated continuously .in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2so as to comb the top sheets o f the pile to and over a ridge 13 formedby a bend in one or more 'plates 14.v The action of the combing wheelsCauses the sheet-s to move slowly over the ridge and then to coactivefeed rolls 15 'and 16,.

As shown by Figs. 2 and 3 the combing. wheels areaiiixed upon separateshafts 17 and 1 7, said vshafts .being mounted respectively ,inrock-arms 18 and 18. The rockarms are aiiixed upon separate sleeves 19and 19', each loosely mounted upon a continuously rotating shaft 20. Asshown by Fig. 3 the shaft is rotated by a chain 21, said chain engaginga sprocket (not shown) affixed upon the shaft. The shaft is mounted inbearings 22 supported bysuitable Each of thecombing wheel shaftsis'providedv with a sprocket such as that indicated at 23 in Fig. 2, andthe shaft 2O is provided withI sprockets' such as that indicated at 24.Each sprocket 23 is connected with a sprocket 24 by a chain 25.

Each of the sleeves 19 and 19 `is attached toa rock-arm, said rock-arms`being indicated respectively at 26/and 26C The rockarms are pivotallyconnected to links 27 and 27 which extend forward and are pivotallyconnected to arms 28 and 28 aiiixed respectively to inde endentlylmovable rock-shafts 29 and 29. ach of the rock-shafts 29 and '29 alsocarries a fixed arm 30 and a loose seenthat'one end of a plunger 33 ispivotally connected to the arm 32 by a pivot stud .The other end of theplunger extends 'through a sWiveled abutment 35 supported by the frame,this end of the plunger being screw threaded and provided with lock nuts36'and a washer 37 arranged to abut against themember 35. A'spring 38 iscoiled about the plunger and compressed betweenA the abutment 35 and acollar 39 on the plunger,

the Vtension of the spring being adapted to actuate the arm 32and'thereby retract one of the combing wheels through the-several yconnecting members described.

The arm 32 carries a roll 40 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam 41for the purpose ofcompressing the spring 38 presses the spring 38 itraises the free end of the arm 31. The arm 31 is held raised by. 'adetent 44 and is.provided with an antifriction roll? 43 which engagesthe detent.

The det'ent is pivotally mounted upon a stud 45 affixed tothe frame, andis formed with a recess adapted to receive the roll 43, and with ashoulder 46 adapted to engage the roll to restrain the liftingmechanism. lThe detent normally hangs suspended vfrom vits stud 45 andis held to one` side of its 'center of gravity. by the roll 43. As theroll rises it passes the'shoulder 46-and enters the recessabovetheshoulder. The force-of gravity causes the detentto swing soythat the shoulder passes under the roll, in which position the` detentis .flocked before the cam 41 leaves the roll 40. The locking of the-detent is effected by a trip member'47 which is movable to and fromthefpath vof the lower end of the detent. 'This trip member is affixedto a vrocksha-ft 48 Imounted* in bearings in the frame. The trip memberand rockshaft` are weighted insuch manner that Athe trip member is movedby gravity into the path ofthe ilower end of the detent,

in which position itis shown by Fig. 1.-

When the lever 32 is Areleased by thecam 41,

the force of the `spring 38 reacts upon thev lever 32 and arm 31,tending to move 4the latter downwardly. The arm '31, however, issupported bythe shoulder 46 which is in the path -of the roll 43. Theroll tends to displace the detent, but the `llatter is held againstdisplacement by the ltrip ymember 47 which stands lin thepath of'thelower-end of the'detent. lThe rockshaft 48 is provided ,with an arm49 which carries an adjustable stop screw 50. This stop `screw isadapted to abut against any convenient portionv of the frame todetermine the normal or locking position ofthe trip member. Mechanismhereinafter described is'provided for turning `the rock'shaft 48 to4retract the trip member 47 from the path of the detent so as to releasethe mechanism whichl lifts the combing wheels. Figs.. `4 and 5 `show thetrip member retracted from the detent.l *It will be understood that themechanism vjust described is disposed -at one side of the machine andthat similar mechanism is disposed at the'other side of thema'chne, and.

that the two sets of mechanism are adapted to be controlledindependently of each other, as usual, in order to correct any skewingof the sheet. y

The twotrips whichcontrl the two detents independent-ly are afixed toseparate independentrock-shafts 48, said rock-shafts anbearing 51. Eachof the rock-shafts is p rovided..with a plurality of abut-ments of theform of lingers 52 (see Figs. 6 and 7 which receive a blow from astriker to release `the spring-actuated mechanism for lifting thecombing device. The fingers 52 are arranged in a series across thelineoffeed to be employed one at a time according'to the width of the sheetsbeing fed.

When either rock-shaft 48 is rocked to disengage its trip 47 from therespective detent 44 the dete'nt becomes replaced by and releases thearm 31 and permits the arm 32 to move in response to the tension of Ithespring 38. The arm 32 is provided with a projection 53 which abutsagainst a portion of the arm 3G thereby actuating the connectingmechanism'by which the combing-device is retracted. WVhile the combingdevice 'is 4in retracted position a cam 54 on t-he cam shaft 42 engagesa roll 55 at the free end of the arm 30 and maintains the combingdevicein retracted position while 'the cam 41 acts to restore thevarious lmembers which aresubject to the tension of the spring 38. Thecam 54 `finally releases the roll 55 thus vpermiting the combing deviceto drop upon the pile andresume its combingaction.

' rllhe sheet controlled devices-by which 'the Atrip mechanism isactuated are illustrated .in detail 'by Fig. 1 andFig's. 7 to 11inclusive.` Referring 'first 'to Fig. 1, 56 indicates one of twosheet-actuated controlling mem- ;bers which normally intersect the pathof the sheet lmoving upon the plate 14. .The member 56, hereinaftertermed a trigger, is aixed to a holder 57 (see Fig. 11). The holder 57is `pivotally mounted upon a transverse pin 58 by which it is connectedto a stationary bracket 59. The bracket is adiyloo ljustably mountedupon a transverse rod 60 aii-xed to the frame and is adapted-'tobequired by the Widthv of the sheets being combed.

Aftixed lto the holder 57 by rivets for any -ot-her appropriate means'isa block 62 (see Fig.-9). The block is formed` with a central tooth 63and Withoppositely extending :arms 64. The bracket 59 is formed 'with asocketto receive a strikerl 65. also contains a spring- 66 by which thestriker is actuated. The striker is so a-rranged as to strike the freeend of the finger or abutment 52 Ato which it is adjusted` and toltherebyfrock the shaft-48 'to-eifect retraction. of the combing device.

' Fig. vil() illustrates the striker in detail,

thestrilger in this li ure being inverted. It

atlixed in any one of several positions upon The socket l Y .isformed'ofa cylin' ric rod and is cutaway at one end jto form a ,plain surface -67and shoulder 682, Apin Gil-extends tmnsverseh1 I through the striker andprojects therefrom on both sides. The projecting portions of the pin 69are arranged in longitudinal slots in the bracket 59 and project beyondthe exterior of the bracket. The block 62 is so mounted with relation tothe striker 65 that the tooth 63 is adapted to engage the surface 67 ofthe striker and to be' engaged by the shoulder 68. f

As shown by Fig. 1 the pivot pin 58 is in the plane of the surface 67and consequently the pressure of the shoulder 68 against the tooth 63 isradial with regard to the pivot pin. The tension of the strikertherefore has no tendency to swing the trigger about its pivot when thetrigger is in this position, but when t-he trigger is moved by a sheetthe point of contact of the tooth 63 with the shoulder 68 falls belowthe pivot 58 and the tension of the striker therefore assists the sheetin advancing the trigger. The tooth 63 continues to drop as it swingsabout the pivot 58 until the striker is released thereby, whereupon thestriker strikes a blow upon the abutment 52.

From. the foregoing description it is obvious' that the function of thetrigger is to merely release the striker, the strikerthere-v afterperforming the function of actuating the trip mechanism. A relativelylight spring 66 is suiiicient for this purpose inasmuch as t-he strikerattains momentum suicient to actuate the trip mechanism. It is obviousthat the resistance of the trigger 56 due to frictional engagement ofthe tooth 63 with the shoulder 68 is almost negligible in view of thelight tension of the spring 66 and the relatively short radius of thetooth 63 with relation to the radius of the trigger.

Referring now to Figs. 7 8, and 11 it will be seen that the holder 57 isformed with a transverse portion 71 which is arranged in the line of ayielding abutment in the form of a spring follower 72. The follower isinserted in a socket in the bracket 59 and is normally projected by aspring 73 contained in the socket. Its function is to limit the initialmovement of the sheet-actuated member so that said member will act as agage for the front edge of the sheet. The rear end of the followerprojects beyond the rear of the bracket 59 and is provided with a nut 74by which the forward lmovement of the follower is limited. When thetrigger is in its 'normal position as shown by Fig. 1 the transverseportion 71 is slightly removed that the sheet after causing theretraction of the combing means is held against further forward movementby the stop gage 75. The sheet in approaching the trigger passes under aplate on the strip 76 arranged above the ridge plate 14 and separatedtherefrom only so far as to provide sufficient space for the sheet. Thestrip 76 and likewise the plate 14 is cut away in order to permit thetrigger to extend therethrough. The trigger after effecting retractionof the combing means and after serving as a gage for the sheet is raisedout of the path of the sheet before the sheet is taken by the feed rolls15 and 16. A rock-shaft 77 is mounted in stationary bearings in theframe and is pro vided with a gear segment 78. A lever 79 pivotallymounted upon a fulcrum stud 80 is formed with a gear segment 81 whichcoacts with the segment 78. The lever 79 carries a cam roll 82 which isadapted to be engaged by a cam 83 atlixed upon the cam shaft 42. Aspring 84 is connected to the lever 79, said spring having sufficienttension to rock the shaft 77 in one direction and maintain the roll 82in contact with the cam 83. The cam 83 is formed with a concentricsurface 85, a slightly largerconcentric surface 86 and a point 87 whichprojects beyond the circle of the surface 86. The cam rotating in thedirection of the arrow permits the roll 82 to drop from the surface 86to the surface 85 shortly after the sheet comes to a stop against thegages and by the action of the lever 79 the shaft 77 is rocked in thedirection of the arrow. A pin 88 extending radially from the rock-shaftengages one of the arms ,64 of the block 62 thereby swinging the triggerto the extreme right hand position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. The stopv gage 75 is thus removed from the path of the sheet andis held in this position for a brief period during which the rolls 16are moved into engagement with the sheet l95 connected to the arm holdsthe roll in engagement with the cam and by its tension the rolls arenormally separated from the rolls 15. The cam 94 is so formed as tovmove the rolls 16 into active position at the appropriate time andv tomaintain them in such position for a sufficient. eriod of time to insurecomplete removal o the sheet.

After removal of thesheet the rolls are again elevated by the spring95.' After the removal of the sheet the point 87 of the cam rock-shaft77 in the opposite direction. The

pin 88 carried by the rock-shaft thenengages one end of the pin 69 whichextends through the striker 65, and by the act-ion of the pin 88 thestriker is retracted sufiiciently to permit the trigger 56 to return toits initial position in which the tooth 63 moves upwardly into contactwith the surface 67 of the striker'. The return of the trigger iseffected by gravity but is assisted by thel spring follower 72. When thelever 79 is released by the point 87 of the cam 83 the striker 65 ismoved forward b spring 66 until the shoulder 68 enga es t e tooth 63. Inthis way the. striker an trigger are restored to their initial positionsready to act Whenever the trigger is again displaced by a succeedingsheet. The various members of the trip mechanism are all arranged toautomatically resume their initial positions when the trigger andstriker are restored.

By reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 8 it will be seen that the rock-shaft 77is provided with a plurality of radial pins 88 which are respectivelyadjacent but slightly out 4of line with relation to the ngers 52 of therockshaft 48. The relative positions of the pins 88 andngers 52 are suchthat when a striker 1s adjusted transversely of the feeding mechanism tocoact with one of the lingers 52 an arm 64 of the block 62 and one endof the pin 69 of the striker will be positioned respectively one infront of and the lother behind a pin 88. Any number of ins 88 and ngers52 may be provided, ut for practicalpurposes two of each for eachtrigger are usually suicient to adapt the tripa mechanism to Wide ornarrow sheets Having thus explained the nature of myv restraining meanswhereby the latter may be moved to release said spring-actuated means, astriker adapted to engage said abut-ment, a spring for -throwing saidstriker against said abutment to move said restraining means asaforesaid, and sheet-actuated means for controlling said striker, saidsheet-actuated means and said striker having coactive portions adaptedto hold said striker in restraint out of contact with said abutment,said sheet-actuated means being` adapted to release said striker whenthe latter is out of Contact as aforesaid, whereby said striker isadapted to acquire momentum under the influence of said spring beforeengagin said abutment.

2. he combination with sheet-feeding means, of a sheet-actuatedmemberinitially occupying the path of-a sheet, means controlled by thesheet-actuated member for rendering the feeding yielding abutment forimit-ing the operative movement of said sheet-actuated member, wherebysaid member becomesa stop gage for the sheet, and means for furthermoving said member against its abutment to remove it from the path ofthe sheet,

3. The lcombination .with sheet-feeding means, means includinganoperating `spring for lifting said feeding .means, and means forrestraining said lifting means; of a spring, means adapted to be vactuated .by said spring for actuating sa1d restraining means to releasesaid lifting means, means for holding sa1d actuatingmeans 1n revstraint,said holding means being movable by a sheet for releasing said actuatingmeans, a double-acting member movable in one direction for retractingsaid sheet-operated means frorn the path of the sheet, and movable'inthe reverse direction for moving said actuating means to its vretractedposition, and means for operating said doubleacting member. y i v Intestinmnywhereof I have ailixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT B. MGLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses: W. P. ABELL, P. W. PEzzEfrrn means inactive, a y

